Maru (まる, Japanese: circle or round; born May 24, 2007[1]) is a male Scottish Fold (straight variety[2]) cat in Japan who has become popular on YouTube. As of April 2013[update], videos with Maru have been viewed over 200 million times.[3] Videos featuring Maru have an average of 800,000 views each and he is mentioned often in print and televised media discussing Internet celebrities.[4]

Maru's owner posts videos under the account name 'mugumogu'. Mugumogu is almost never seen in the videos. A rare exception: "Maru's ear cleaning.". The videos are edited to include title cards in English and Japanese setting up the events of the video, and often show Maru playing in cardboard boxes, indicated by "I love a box!" in his introduction video.

In August 2013, Maru's owner adopted a two-month-old mixed-breed cat named 'Hana' from a veterinarian. During the two-week trial period, Maru and Hana got along very well and Mugumogu decided to make Hana a new member of their family.[5]

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Entertainment Weekly mentioned Maru alongside Keyboard Cat and Nora in its "Notable Kitty Videos" article.[6][7]The New York Times mentioned Maru in an article about cats and dogs in the media and included pictures of the cat.[8] Maru's videos have been featured on the Fresh Step's commercial on the Fresh Step YouTube Channel.[9] Maru has also been featured in advertisements within Japan, for various products.[10] As of December 2011[update], Maru's channel is the 7th most subscribed in Japan.

After the March 2011 earthquakes in Japan, Mugumogu reported from Maru's blog that Maru was safe and unharmed, though a carrying case was prepared in the event of an evacuation.[11]

As of August 2013, a female tabby kitten named Hana (はな, "flower") joined Maru's household.[12]

A book and DVD (containing English and Japanese text) entitled I am Maru was released in Japan in September 2009.[13][14][15] A further DVD Maru Desu followed in February the year after.[16] A second book, もっと、まるです (More Maru) was released on August 31, 2011 (Japanese only).[17]